Houston is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, which are a cause of global warming and other evidence of human-induced climate change. The intensive amount of refinery and chemical plant production, along with electric generation, mean that this region's greenhouse gas emission rate is among the highest in the world.

Of course, it is often remarked that the underlying cause of this high emission rate is consumption that is distributed more or less evenly across the United States. Yet when it comes to transportation, our region is known for its low gas mileage style and high travel rates on a per capita basis. Our region's public officials and the preferences of the public have led to an unsustainable pattern of greenhouse gas emissions.

As far as public health is concerned, greenhouse gases are generally benign. Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas, and its emissions are completely safe. Some air pollutants that affect public health are also of concern as greenhouse gases, but generally the two issues are distinct from one another.

In the long run, if efforts to substantially curtail greenhouse gases are successful, it will most certainly lead to substantial reductions in air pollution generally. But the reverse is not necessarily true - we can reduce air pollution to relatively safe levels without reducing greenhouse gas emissions (and possibly even increasing them as a result).

Because GHASP's mission is to focus on the public health consequences of air pollution in the Houston region, we do not advocate on climate-related issues as an organization. By-and-large, however, our members are personally concerned about these issues and we do consider the implications of our advocacy on climate change issues.

Please feel free to comment further on this issue, and we'll update this article or add more as warranted.